Re: Trade Secrets
Posted: 5:24 pm
More on hillforts. Hugh Thomson, an inveterate walker, wrote an article in the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017 ... -hillforts
in which he notes how 'completely empty' most of them are apart from dog walkers. Not my experience at all but each man to his own.
A good part of the article is devoted to the role of corvids, particularly ravens.
Perhaps something in TME (Thomson was sent a copy) resonated with him though we see corvids as extremely useful. (and the further we investigated, the more versatile they appeared). He does however come up with a rather splendid scenario of a priest or Druid sporting a raven on the shoulder a la Odin
His forthcoming book sounds like a worthwhile read. Pity about the publisher.
in which he notes how 'completely empty' most of them are apart from dog walkers. Not my experience at all but each man to his own.
A good part of the article is devoted to the role of corvids, particularly ravens.
The raven has always been a creature of myth, for its intelligence, longevity (living 25-40 years, Tennyson’s “many-winter’d crow” had the life expectancy of any human in the iron age) and capacity to mimic or follow human behaviour. But not necessarily for its loyalty – a raven is not like a dog. Corvids are cunning, and capable of stealing from an iron age camp.
Perhaps something in TME (Thomson was sent a copy) resonated with him though we see corvids as extremely useful. (and the further we investigated, the more versatile they appeared). He does however come up with a rather splendid scenario of a priest or Druid sporting a raven on the shoulder a la Odin
Some ravens may have been domesticated by their Druid handlers, like the ravens at the Tower of London today. It would be an arresting sight, the priest with a large raven on his shoulder; for they are large birds, bigger than buzzards. (Such an image has been found at Moux in southern France, as a Gallo-Roman stone relief.)
His forthcoming book sounds like a worthwhile read. Pity about the publisher.